U.S President Barack Obama is threatening to cut off foreign aid to Nigeria if a recent anti-gay bill is passed, but Nigerians are unwavering.

FORBES: Obama Fights Nigerian Anti-Gay Bill, Threatens To Cut Off Aid

The danger, however, is that the Bank's shareholders would use this as an excuse to cut their own foreign-aid budgets still more.

ECONOMIST: Slimming the Bretton Woods duo

Foreign-aid donors have already cut off support for Zimbabwe and are complaining that Rwanda and Uganda are spending too much.

ECONOMIST: Congo

All links with Britain's foreign policy will be cut and, says Ms Short, aid should be used to support economic reform only if this leads to poverty reduction.

ECONOMIST: Overseas aid